A previous report found sons of male alcoholics to be at increased risk for exhibiting conduct symptoms in comparison to female offspring (Schuckit et al., 2008). The present observation of nearly equivalent rates of Conduct Disorder in boys and girls may be the result of the ascertainment strategy used to select these maternal high risk families. Families selected through the presence of two alcohol dependent sisters are at an especially high risk for developing alcohol dependence. Also, it has often been noted that threshold for alcohol dependence may differ by gender because societal pressures reduce the likelihood that women will engage in heavy drinking (Hill, 2000). Those who exceed that threshold may be more extreme than are males who become heavy drinkers. Also, higher prevalence ratios of ASPD are seen in female than male alcoholics (Helzer et al., 1991). Therefore, both male and female offspring in this study may have exhibited Conduct Disorder as a result of an increased liability for adult ASPD in their mothers, a condition that is often preceded by adolescent conduct problems.
